So, I've noticed this line in my CUDA tasks, that says "Running (0.04 CPUs, 1 CUDA)". I assume this means that 4% of one CPU is being used to supply work to the GPU. Is that enough?

I have a feeling that the GPU isn't doing as much work as it could. For example, when I watch a movie and I forget to switch off BOINC, it still runs for a minute or so before the occasional stuttering. Also, Windows 7's Aero feature (say minimising windows) is unaffected most of the time even when BOINC is running. Does this mean my GPU is idle all that time?

if you look on your preferences on the BOINC manager you see the "run GPU when computer is being used" if its unclicked and you are using your PC then no it won't be running.In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

if you look on your preferences on the BOINC manager you see the "run GPU when computer is being used" if its unclicked and you are using your PC then no it won't be running.

Yeah, I've clicked that option, so I know it's running even when I'm using my PC (also the CUDA task says 'Running' in the manager, not 'Waiting to run'). But it still hardly has any impact on the computer.

I'd be willing to bet the 8800 CUda card would cause more problems than the GTX260 the better the card the less you'll notice work being done. I notice when I run my ATI 4770 when gaming. not so much when its off. In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

So, I've noticed this line in my CUDA tasks, that says "Running (0.04 CPUs, 1 CUDA)". I assume this means that 4% of one CPU is being used to supply work to the GPU. Is that enough?

If I remember correctly that has to do more with the work fetch than the CPU resources. Look at your task manager and you'll see the CPU percentage jumping around in the GPU process.Join BOINC Synergy!

So, I've noticed this line in my CUDA tasks, that says "Running (0.04 CPUs, 1 CUDA)". I assume this means that 4% of one CPU is being used to supply work to the GPU. Is that enough?

I have a feeling that the GPU isn't doing as much work as it could. For example, when I watch a movie and I forget to switch off BOINC, it still runs for a minute or so before the occasional stuttering. Also, Windows 7's Aero feature (say minimising windows) is unaffected most of the time even when BOINC is running. Does this mean my GPU is idle all that time?

It is not a measurement, it's an estimate. For those running stock, there's a server-side estimate of how much CPU will be used, based on the host's benchmarks and the estimated speed of the GPU. For those running anonymous platform, the 0.04 is what's in the app_info.xml. It makes very little difference, the BOINC core client uses it to decide whether a CPU application can be run at the same time as a GPU application. In effect the 0.04 says 96% of the CPU is available for other work.

Actual CPU usage can be checked with Task Manager, of course. It isn't steady usage, the GPU only needs to be told what to do next after it has completed an operation.

Some users have determined that they get the best productivity by leaving one CPU core effectively idle so it can feed the GPU with no delay. That mode would probably speed up the GPU work on your host, but whether it would be enough to make up for the unused CPU is uncertain.

Some users have determined that they get the best productivity by leaving one CPU core effectively idle so it can feed the GPU with no delay. That mode would probably speed up the GPU work on your host, but whether it would be enough to make up for the unused CPU is uncertain.

Joe

I can't imagine that it would be worth sacrificing a whole CPU core to feed one measly mid-range CUDA card, but I can see that it could help for top crunchers like Simon or Vyper with 6 or 8 top-of-the-range cards to feed.

I'll play around with the one-CPU setting to see if my GPU WUs take less time. I have a Core 2 Duo P7350 (OC'd to 2.5 GHz), not the best CPU, so maybe the extra GPU usage will make up for the lack of a CPU core. And yes, CPU usage for the CUDA application jumps between 0% and 10% most of the time.

On my GPU cruncher, only - like the name ;-) - calculation on the GPUs.

If all stock I had (0.19 CPU, 1 CUDA)
Now with opt._CUDA_app I have no specially entry in my app_info.xml, so there is (1.00 CPU, 1 CUDA).
Because of, if not BOINC would ask continuously for new work for 4 idle CPU-Cores.

If I would crunch also on the CPU, the GPU performance would go massively down.
Only on (whole) CPU, maybe ~ 4,000 RAC.
Only on GPUs, last stable RAC as 24/7 ~ 52,000. ~ 13,000/GPU.

If CPU and GPUs simultaneously, the GPU calculation time increased ~ x3.
Because of boinc.exe (BOINC client) and System activity/peaks [Windows TaskManager], which disturb CPU and GPU calculation equally/simultaneously.

It would be better that only the CPU tasks would be disturbed, but BOINC and/or the OS (Windows) isn't smart enough.

AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE @ 4 x 3.0 GHz with 4x OCed GTX260-216.

It depend which kind of CPU and GPU/s you have.
Maybe, if you have >= 2x GTX2xx GPU series in your PC case, one/two (or more) free CPU-Core/s.

It depend which kind of CPU and GPU/s you have.
Maybe, if you have >= 2x GTX2xx GPU series in your PC case, one/two (or more) free CPU-Core/s.

Wow, I only have one mobile GTX 260M (basically a shrunk desktop 9800 GT) with a P7350 CPU. That's only 112 shaders, compared to your 864! I will see what happens when I switch off one CPU core, or both.

Chirag Patel,
I could be wrong... but you might get performance if you were to update your geforce drivers. I see you have 186.x

186.82 are the latest mobile drivers available officially from nVidia. I've tried LaptopVideo2Go's custom ones based on the 191.xx desktop drivers, but I've trouble with Powermizer in the past if I used those drivers (the 260M wouldn't clock down from max clocks even when the card was idle).

Chirag Patel,
I could be wrong... but you might get performance if you were to update your geforce drivers. I see you have 186.x

186.82 are the latest mobile drivers available officially from nVidia. I've tried LaptopVideo2Go's custom ones based on the 191.xx desktop drivers, but I've trouble with Powermizer in the past if I used those drivers (the 260M wouldn't clock down from max clocks even when the card was idle).

And call me Chirag. ;)

Later Beta 190.38 Notebook drivers are available in the 2nd post in this thread:

Wow, I only have one mobile GTX 260M (basically a shrunk desktop 9800 GT) with a P7350 CPU. That's only 112 shaders, compared to your 864! I will see what happens when I switch off one CPU core, or both.

But - if it's a mobile GPU in a laptop/notebook - you must look to the GPU temps.

Like I said, because of boinc.exe and System activity/peaks, CPU and GPU tasks are disturbed.

If you work on your laptop, also if you have a big WU cache, this will disturb the GPU calculation. (if the CPU isn't idle)

Because, nearly all progs have 'normal' priority also boinc.exe . CPU tasks have 'low', GPU tasks have 'lower than normal'. If a prog with 'normal' priority have activity, all under 'normal' will be disturbed. So CPU and GPU tasks. BOINC and/or the OS (Windows) isn't smart enough to disturb in the priority hierarchy of the tasks. That first only CPU tasks and if all CPU tasks stopped then GPU tasks.

Check.. I was almost worried I didn't have the v2.3 dlls, but a quick cmd -> fc showed that I did..

I'm wondering if its simply the fact that my CPU/RAM are getting a bit old (going to celebrate their 5 year birthday in April!)

Thankfully I almost having everything I need to piece together my i7 920 setup :) my GA-EX58-UD4P should be arriving this week, which just leaves the cpu (i7 920), and RAM (thinking of going with 6gb OCZ Reaper 1800mhz kit)

Cool, thanks. I downloaded and installed the 190.38 beta drivers yesterday, and got the CUDA V2.3 DLLs from Lunatics, and now my long WUs finish in ~25 minutes, instead of ~45 minutes.

I am a bit concerned though, how can just a CUDA version upgrade cause such a massive increase in efficiency? I hope the Lunatics team are not taking any shortcuts in SETI@Home's algorithms just to get the highest RAC.

But - if it's a mobile GPU in a laptop/notebook - you must look to the GPU temps.

Like I said, because of boinc.exe and System activity/peaks, CPU and GPU tasks are disturbed.

If you work on your laptop, also if you have a big WU cache, this will disturb the GPU calculation. (if the CPU isn't idle)

Yes, I have to watch the temperatures sometimes. I've set the system to shut down if the GPU temp goes above 88C. The max is around 85C with the GPU at stock speeds (550/1375/950), and with the driver and CUDA DLL upgrade, the average temp is now 82C.

Also, there is absolutely no extra disk or CPU activity when I leave the laptop alone, except the occasional indexing. I don't have antivirus software installed (yes, I know the risks), and Windows 7 is very good about keeping CPU activity minimal.

Cool, thanks. I downloaded and installed the 190.38 beta drivers yesterday, and got the CUDA V2.3 DLLs from Lunatics, and now my long WUs finish in ~25 minutes, instead of ~45 minutes.

I am a bit concerned though, how can just a CUDA version upgrade cause such a massive increase in efficiency? I hope the Lunatics team are not taking any shortcuts in SETI@Home's algorithms just to get the highest RAC.

Not to worry.....
The Lunatics apps are tested and validate correctly or they would not release them.

It's the upgrade to the 2.3 dll's that is giving you the large increase in performance. The same is true for desktop GPUs.Cats.....what more does one need?